Waitsfield's Village Covered Bridge Receives Funding

WGN 45-12-14

 

Waitsfield, VT - The Town of Waitsfield has received funding in the amount of $344,000 for the rehabilitation of the Village Covered Bridge in downtown Waitsfield. Part of the funding is a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant being administered through the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), Local Transportation Facility (LTF) Group.

The Village Bridge was constructed in 1833 as a multiple king post truss with Burr Arch. It is a 105 feet long, single lane bridge with a sidewalk added to the downstream side as a cantilever structure in the 1930's.

The grant was obtained to evaluate the current condition of the bridge and to address the integrity of the sidewalk, abutments, wingwalls and lateral bracing.

The Town has selected Dubois & King, Inc (D&K). of Randolph, VT as the consultant to oversee the rehabilitation. "The first step is to evaluate existing conditions and determine the best means to repair or rehabilitate the structure" says Robert H. Durfee, P.E., Vice President and Chief Bridge Engineer for D&K.

"Over the years many localized repairs have been made by covered bridge wrights including Milton Graton and Jan Lewandowski" says Evan Detrick, P.E., Project Manager for D&K. "The Town wants to look at the entire integrity of the bridge and bring all areas up to a good condition"

D&K expects to complete the study and report phase and deliver their findings and recommendations to the Town by October 2010.